Zack's words left every one of them without a response. They didn't expect him to pose that question. In the time they had been visiting him, he had shown no signs of caring about his reputation in the town.

Max and Rea had been teasing him ever since he broke his leg. It would be a lie to say that seeing the expressions on their faces didn't make him somewhat happy. Still, Zack didn't expect such a strong reaction. He was curious.

Throughout this time, he had been trying to figure out the reason for the villagers' attitude. Obviously, he hadn't done anything that could cause such disdain towards him. Except for a few, others looked at him as if they wanted to distance themselves from him, some even with hostility.

Despite investigating the cause of this behavior, the few people with whom he had relationships refused to tell him anything. Most shook their heads and told him not to worry.

The only people he hadn't asked yet were Max and his friends. Since they were the youngest among his contacts, possibly knowing the truth, he had been waiting for the right moment to ask them.

What better circumstance than now, when he had become their boss?

Zack waited for them to recover, but all he received was silence. None of them knew how to start the conversation.

Seeing their looks, and that none of them said anything, he knew he had to initiate the conversation.

"Is it something I've done?"

"Or have I done something else? Should I have gone to another town?"

"N-No. It's not that," Rea responded, but soon fell silent again, seeming somewhat embarrassed. It was evident that telling the truth was difficult for her.

"Then what is it? Why do the people in the town behave that way?" His eyes wandered from one to another, searching for something. Unfortunately, it seemed that none of them were willing to talk.

Zack sighed.

"You can go." The three looked up at him with puzzled and bewildered eyes. Didn't he want to know what was happening in the town? Why let them go?

These thoughts were in their heads. Although he couldn't read minds, years of reading others' expressions allowed him to know what they were thinking.

"I'm not going to force you to tell me. I'm extremely curious, but I'm sure you have your reasons for not telling me. I don't want to force you. Get ready to leave and start working." After saying these few words, he turned around and headed for the stairs.

Although he hadn't obtained the information he wanted, the fact that they refused to say it. No. The fact that they couldn't say it gave him much more information than they thought.

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First. The dislike the inhabitants of the area have towards Zack is because of the previous doctor.

He's not sure if it was due to his character, or if something happened that made the villagers fear him, but it's obvious that his current attitude is because of the previous doctor.

Second, Whatever happened affected the entire town.

Although not everyone in the town treats him like this, the people who do come from all social strata. This world is highly structured, and people from different classes usually don't associate with each other. Still, Zack has observed that, whether they were blacksmiths, appraisers, miners, or fishermen. Except for mercenaries who didn't belong to the town and were busy exploring the dungeon, people from all social classes preferred not to have anything to do with him.

Third. Someone wants what happened not to be discovered.

In the town, there are all kinds of people, some look at him with fear, others ignore him, and there are those who look at him with hatred. Still, none of them has done anything. There has been no one who attacked him in the middle of the night, nor has there been anyone who helped him in a moment of need.

The most serious thing that happened to him while he was here was the first time he went to the market. Some vendors didn't want to sell him their products or did so at a higher price. Even that didn't result in too much trouble. A single look from Aunt Greta was enough to silence them, and they didn't cause him problems again. Nor are they the only ones selling vegetables and meat in the market; he can always go to another stall.

Watching the three brave warriors slip away quickly as if escaping some punishment was the last confirmation he needed. All these people are limited by something or someone who doesn't want people to talk about what happened.

In normal circumstances, he would go see the only person who has enough power to do something like this: The mayor.

It's obvious that the mayor cares about the town and wants there to be a doctor. Just by threatening to leave here would be enough to know the truth. In fact, he suspects that this silence is not directed at him.

A significant part of the town's prosperity is due to the presence of the dungeon. Most of the town's economy is supported by the consumption generated by the presence of mercenaries. Bars, restaurants, tourist sites. Even most of the industrial area is dedicated to meeting all the needs of people who come to explore the dungeon and level up.

Zack believes that the former doctor did something. Something that gave the town a bad reputation, a reputation bad enough to deter potential new residents from the dungeon. It's the only explanation he has found. However, he has no intention of going to see the mayor.

Another person would want to know the truth, would want explanations and to be treated fairly. Zack couldn't care less. The reason is very simple: this situation benefits him.

From the beginning, his goal is to take refuge and hide from his possible pursuers while learning the books and spells he memorized when he was with his companions, and leveling up to the maximum.

The fact that the townspeople don't want to accept him among them, but also can't do anything against him means that the number of patients he will have to treat is lower, and the people who will approach him will be almost zero. After all, no one wants to be with someone who is the target of their friends and neighbors. That means he has all the time to focus on what matters.

Of course, that doesn't mean he will ignore anyone who needs treatment, and those who are truly sick won't come to him. Zack is sure that no matter how much they despise him in the town if one of the villagers is truly sick and there is a risk of something serious happening, they will come to him. For him, this situation where he will encounter the fewest people possible is ideal.

All he wanted was confirmation that his assumptions were correct. That's why he tested his new employees.

Zack closed the door of his house and turned to the backyard.

(The day is still young, and there's much to learn) Zack thought as he quickened his steps, wondering what spell he would learn today. No matter what he has seen since he arrived here, magic has always been the most exciting thing in this world for him.